Another month has arrived and only now have we learned what PS5, PS4 games Sony is putting on PS Plus Essential for November 2023, with the titles set to go live on Tuesday. If you need a reminder of what will be on offer for subscribers, here's what you have to look forward to:
- Mafia II: Definitive Edition (PS4) | Review
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite (PS5, PS4) | Review
- Dragon Ball: The Breakers (PS5, PS4) | Review
Sony probably figures Mafia II: Definitive Edition is the headliner for this month, but given how rough the PS4 remaster is, there are better ways of experiencing the classic title. Aliens: Fireteam Elite is supposed to be a pretty decent co-op shooter, while Dragon Ball: The Breakers is an average multiplayer experience. There's not exactly an obvious, premiere title this month. Still, maybe you've found something to like in the PS5, PS4 selection.
Now it's time for you to share your vote — and then your overall thoughts — on the PS Plus Essential lineup for the month of November 2023. Place a vote in our polls and feel free to post anything else on the three games in the comments below.
Are you happy with your PS Plus Essential games for November 2023? (3,016 votes)
- Yes, very happy
- Yeah, mostly happy
- Meh, they're okay
- Nope, they could be better
- No, it's a bad selection
- I don't have PS Plus Essential
Which PS Plus Essential game for November 2023 are you most looking forward to? (1,574 votes)
- Mafia II: Definitive Edition
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite
- Dragon Ball: The Breakers
Comments 65
Nowt here of interest to me. Never liked Dragon Ball, Aliens was very mediocre when I played on Game Pass and Mafia 2 was 'OK' 13yrs ago from my perspective so nothing I'm looking forward, let alone excited to play...
There's usually at least one of the 3 games I might have a passing interest in but this month.....
Zilch....... absolutely nothing
Obviously everyones taste in games will be different so it always subjective but since the price rise it seems the games have been getting worse month by month (in my opinion at least)
My PS plus is due for renewal at the end of the month and if it wasn't for the fact I'd lose access to all my other games that I've claimed I'd seriously consider letting it lapse.
Considering they put the price of PS Plus up, these are are a joke.
Really looking forward to The Breakers. Didn’t ever feel like buying, but always felt like trying. Happiest I’ve been with a PS+ pick in a while, honestly.
Already played the mafia trilogy, aliens looks alright, i like dragonball but not the type of game breakers is. Not the worst lineup but nothing for me really
There are often months where there is nothing for me. However, this month just looks objectively poor.
It seems like the quality of games is dropping as the price of the service is increasing.
Tbh games aint bad, Mafia 2 is a lowkey awesome game, and Aliens Fireteam is damn addictive. Only personal issue, i already own Mafia, and played tons of Aliens on game pass.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
My PS+ subscription lapses this month and, after seeing these games, I don't even care, especially not for the new price point.
While I am interested in trying out Mafia 2 and Aliens this is not something that offers the value of 80$ a year.
With the price of Plus raised by 30% I expected at least a 30% increase in the quality of the games, it looks like they are getting worse. Let's see what we get in December, I'm assuming PS will end the year with a bang otherwise it would be embarrassing for all parties
There hasn't been strong added selection of good games since May when I was paying less. also I'm not interested in films on a gaming console
No, next question
Just have to hope that the December games will be an improvement
Worst month in a very long time. Some have been bad this year, but this is just awful, some bad remaster already available on ps plus as part of a trilogy, some half average co-op shooter and a dreadful multiplayer game looks like an early ps4 game,.hope their saving an awesome line up for December...
One of the worst months of recent memory. I would say Mafia is good but looks like even that is bad considering the awful remastered.
„None of them, to be honest“
I'm more interested in Uno this month coming to extra than I am ps plus. So it's a poor month from me, normally there is at least 1 game I'm interested in however there is none this month.
I'll give aliens a go seeing as its part of my sub. Could be fun for a while.
@BAMozzy thankyou for your info on my tv question. I've spent all week looking at various tv's and i bought a very nice 50 incher with pretty much everything i could ask for and its a huge improvement over my old 40 inch 4k..once again your input was much appreciated 👍
It's not a great month but not the worst we've ever had either, il still give all three games a try though to get my monies worth. Who knows I might end up liking one making it a good month in the end.
Nothing for me, that’s fine, I’ve waaay too much to keep me occupied at the moment. Itching to play Talos Principle 2, but I’m trying to save it until Christmas
While it's not the best selection, I'm not going to complain about it. Aliens: Fireteam Elite is probably the only game I'm cautiously interested in. Already own Mafia II Definitive Edition.
@Northern_munkey No probs - hope you are very happy with your choice and it's a very worthy upgrade that will serve you well for years to come...
As long as you found the info useful that's all the thanks I need and just hope it helped you to make your purchasing decision with confidence.
Played to death the original Mafia 2, so no interest there. Breakers looks awful- would have rather Kakarot, so I guess I may play Aliens. Probably won't. After the price hike, I'm sure many would have expected more/ better.
@BAMozzy 👍
@BAMozzy Mafia 2 is like the best game out of the trilogy though. And that's including the remake of the first game.
What happened to no, it's a CRAP selection? That was a way better option.
Mafia 2 is NOT a bad game
I might play Mafia II at some point but no, I'm struggling to call it a good month.
@Leonhart To you - and it may well be the 'best' of the trilogy - but I think the trilogy is average at best - not something I'd recommend. The second was pretty average 13yrs ago when it released.
If you enjoy - great but considering ALL the games I can play today on my PS5, Mafia 2 wouldn't be in my top 100 games. In other words, there are MANY games I'd rather spend my gaming time playing - even if some of those cost money. I'd rather buy some games than play Mafia 2 for 'free' on PS+.
It may not be 'terrible' but there are MANY better games, many that I'd rather spend time playing - some of which are in my backlog so I am not desperate enough, have so few games in my Library or wish list etc, that Mafia 2 is the 'best' use of my gaming time...
Mafia 2 is really good. I heard the remaster was rough at launch but I played it a little over a year ago and it seemed fine.
But since I already played it there isn't much for me here as I'm not interested in the others. I'm getting Like A Dragon Gaiden and P5 Tactica this month though so I'm good.
@Dirk_Diggler i find it amazing they raised the price and didn’t work to ensure the selection immediately after the price raise was enticing. Really bad messaging.
Nothing for me this month, have Mafia 2 already. Some months are crap or already own the games on the good months. On my PS5 currently I've got Callisto Protocol, Sniper Elite 5, Grid Legends getting double PS4 plat now, Tacoma, and Gotham Knights all thanks to PS Plus Essential or Extra and theres still so many more i could install so for me it's not bad at all just because November's Essential ain't all that great. Extra in November could be really good yet?
Upgraded to premium before the price hike just to play a few games that I would like to before I let my sub run out, seeing these games I'm not tempted to keep it. Just personal preference but I don't think this whole subscription model works with games like it works with movies and tv shows. Games are way bigger time sinks so having tonnes of them to play doesn't work for someone like me who has a job and a family so free time is at a premium. Also can someone please tell me if Gotham knights is still only 30 fps? 😅
As a ps plus subscriber from day one. I don't really take any notice ofe the monthly games anymore. I will be letting my membership lapse next time. Just prefer to buy game sthat I really want to play.
In months like this I add the games to my library anyway just in case in the future I’m just old, lonely, with no friends or money, knowing that I’ll always have something to go back and play.
It's not bad. I'll probably get around to playing Mafia 2 someday. I could see myself playing the Aliens game solo with the AI bots at some stage. No interest in the Dragon Ball game.
There ain’t nothin’ “essential” about PS subscription services 👍🏼
Here's hoping that Sony will give us things to be thankful for with the extra and premium offerings.
Mafia 2 is really good! Massive Alien fan but prefer single player so will definitely play it but it’s a meh from me.
Its ok.word up son
Aliens fireteam is great.
Looks like a trio of decent, 6-7/10 games to me *shrugs *. Thankfully I’ve only played Aliens before, and that was on PC, so I should be able to get a couple of weekends worth out of these at least.
@Blaze215 yes gotham knights is still only 30fps but i have to say its pretty good. I'm a 60fps all day every day guy and i really enjoyed gotham knights and i never really noticed it unlike some other games that are 30fps. Dont let it put you off missing out on a great game regardless of what others will tell you.
@Maddie47 raises hand
I subscribe for the monthly games (past and present), PSN discounts, and cloud saves. So your statement is provably false, or at least partially untrue.
I just completed mafia remastered and been waiting on a mafia 2 definitive sale so this couldn't be better timing.
I already bought fireteam elite but it's a pretty fun game if you play with a friend.
So overall probably the best selection in a long time!
@Northern_munkey thanks for clarifying, couldn't find the answer after googling it. Will give it a go so and hope it's not too jarring as I'm def a performance mode guy myself too
None of these for me. I’m just waiting to see if extra subscribers are really going to get Teardown this month. Been waiting for that one.
Online play really needs to be made free again. At the very least, there should be a £10 a year option for online only. The whole subscription service thing has gone sour.
Doesn’t do anything for me.
Interested in Dragonball Breakers since I’d never pay for it. Have Mafia collection already. Aliens coop shooter, I’m good.
I already have Mafia 2 from PS Plus about 10 years ago, followed by a "Free" Definitive Edition upgrade. This selection is lazy.
The timing of Plus increasing- before the holidays- when I'm sure a lot of people have expiring subs, and releasing no real big bangers on plus was such a bizarre business plan.
I'm done this month as well, and I'm not going to renew.
Will be curious to see what Holiday sale pricing will look like with the new increase
7 games that I've played or actively plan on playing since June last year so it's still been value for me. But 99.9% chance I don't touch any of these
No! Stop giving us aging ps4 games like the mafia 2 remaster that haven't been updated in any way for the ps5. Who wants to play a locked 30fps remaster on their ps5?
I feel like Mafia 2 is the type of game where if you had any interest in it you would have bought it by now. The rest are just whatever.
Two games in there that I have wanted to play for ages.
Don't got Plus, just here to shout out MAFIAII. That PS3/360 era graphics still holds well imo. Beautiful immersive game.
@PenguinLtd That's what you've been told, but have you found out for yourself...
Had to vote meh as there was no knack 2.
Second voting section, you forgot:
"NONE OF THIS TRASH"
I’ve been a PS+ subscriber for the best part of a decade, however for the first time in that period I’ve cancelled my renewal. Why bother playing catch up with this increasingly poorly curated offering, when that money could be spent on one of the dozens of high quality releases each month? I’m out.
Sony are quite impressive in that they seem to outdo themselves each month with how disappointing these games are. I wonder if anyone actually looks at these and feels attracted to the prospect of subscribing. Remember when we got Motorstorm and Meatboy and Binding of Isaac and Detroit? Wonder what changed.
I might play Mafia 2 because I have played 1 and have the third in my library, but I have plenty to play at the moment so I'll likely forget about it.
Not an impressive month at all though.
I get the sense that Sony are pushing Extra and Premium from now on, so the Essential offerings are going to dwindle in quality much like they did with Xbox Games with Gold.
They're OK at a push. I added Mafia 1 when it was available but still haven't downloaded it. Aliens I thought (and hoped) it was the strategy release from earlier this year but it seems a fairly generic shooter, may add to library as a bit of mindless co-op fun. Dragon Ball: The Breakers isn't for me. Not a great or even good month but my backlog is large enough!
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